Permits for 'free' car park
Shoppers and traders in Stourbridge will be banned from a town car park where they have left their vehicles free of charge in the past. Shoppers and traders in Stourbridge will be banned from a town car park where they have left their vehicles free of charge in the past. The car park at the back of the Ryemarket has always been used by traders from around the town. But Ryemarket manager Karl Taylor said traders from elsewhere have been clogging up spaces which were meant only for the centre's own workers. He said businesses from other parts of the town have never actually had permission to park without payment. Now a permit parking system is being introduced next month for Ryemarket traders only, stopping other shopkeepers or shoppers from using it. Read the full story in the Express & Star
The car park at the back of the Ryemarket has always been used by traders from around the town.
But Ryemarket manager Karl Taylor said traders from elsewhere have been clogging up spaces which were meant only for the centre's own workers. He said businesses from other parts of the town have never actually had permission to park without payment.
Now a permit parking system is being introduced next month for Ryemarket traders only, stopping other shopkeepers or shoppers from using it.
Mr Taylor said: "Following consultation with our tenants, we are introducing a permit system for parking in the Ryemarket service areas.
"Previously, despite written notices, these areas became congested with people from elsewhere parking without permission.
"This frequently causes health and safety problems as it restricts access for safe loading and denies any parking spaces to our own tenants.
"It is essential that we provide suitable, safe parking facilities for our own tenants and contractors.
"To achieve this as fairly as possible, and to avoid abuse of the facilities, we are introducing the permit system in March."
The system will be managed by a specialist parking company and vehicles parked illegally will be liable for a fixed penalty.
However, some traders claim it could force even more businesses out of the town because they will have nowhere to park.
Parking bays at the town's Bell Street car park have also been reduced by 54 bays, meaning fewer parking spaces for shoppers.
The bays are being reduced because the multi-storey can no longer cope with its vehicle capacity.
By Ben Lammas
